Judd

Having demolished John Higgins 10-1 on Saturday – inflicting the heaviest defeat in the Scot’s stellar 34-year career – Trump fared little better 24 hours later.

And that was despite the 36-year-old fighting back from 2-0 down to 2-2 and then taking what appeared to be a pivotal eighth frame to raise the prospect of a thrilling finale, after Zhao had compiled breaks of 91 and 98 in consecutive frames.

Instead Zhao’s dominance ensured that never materialised against a player he is homing in on at the top of the world rankings – moving up to fourth, with his fourth title of a trophy-laden campaign.

Trump admitted: “He’s a great player and he’s going to be around for a long time so it is up to me and a few of the other players to start playing well against him otherwise he’s going to end his career with 100 tournaments or something like that.

“I think over these past two months he’s been the best player in the world. He’s amazing for the game, so I always enjoy the challenge. For me now, it’s important to go away and try and improve.”

Trump, whose highest break of 61 arrived in the third frame, has bemoaned the condition of his cue tip in previous rounds and pointedly stared at it on several occasions after failing to dispatch routine pots.

He had opportunities in four of the five evening frames, but a missed black off the spot in the final frame typified an error-strewn display.

And just like in the first, fifth and sixth frames, Zhao ruthlessly won them all ruthlessly and he applied the coup de grace with his sixth half century of the match.

“Disappointed I couldn’t perform today for whatever reason,” added Trump.

“I’d have been better off using the spider under the table. It was hard, but it is my own fault for turning up with that tip.”

Judd Trump swept to a commanding 10-4 victory over Neil Robertson but expressed concern about his cue tip as he reached the final of the Tour Championship in Manchester.

World number one Trump laid the platform for his success in Friday’s afternoon session which he dominated to establish a 7-1 lead, before finishing the job in the evening.

Trump, who will be making a first appearance in the final of the event, set the tone with breaks of 87, 94 and 113 as he registered 294 unanswered points in the opening three frames.

He will face either world champion Zhao Xintong or Scotland’s John Higgins in Sunday’s final which begins at 13:00 BST.

“I started off well in the first three frames and after that it went a bit downhill so I am pleased to get over the line,” Trump said on 5Action.

“I have been struggling with my tip for the whole tournament. Somehow I have had a good run and Neil struggled a bit and that was the difference.”

Armed with his hefty lead, Trump made sure he carried focus into the evening session.

The Tour Championship launched in 2019 and this is the eighth edition, with Robertson a two-time former winner, so Trump knew he was not to be underestimated.

“In my eyes Neil loves to win 10-0 so I wanted to beat him 10-1 or give myself something to focus on so he didn’t get back in it,” said the 36-year-old Englishman.

“At this point you want to beat everyone with the World Championship just around the corner. Whoever I play in the final it will be an amazing game.”

After Trump built on his brisk start to develop a 6-0 lead, Australia’s Robertson celebrated with the crowd when he won frame seven.

While Robertson reduced his arrears to 7-3 by winning the first two frames when play resumed in the evening, Trump closed the door on any prospect of a full-scale fightback with runs of 87 and 75 to move 9-3 ahead.

He then traded frames with his opponent to set up a mouth-watering finale to the tournament against Zhao or reigning champion Higgins, who begin their semi-final at 13:00 BST on Saturday.

This is the final event for snooker’s elite players before the World Championship begins in Sheffield on 18 April.

Judd Trump beat Mark Allen in a back-and-forth contest to progress in the first round of the Tour Championship in Manchester.

World number one Trump made a slow start as Allen won the opening four frames, but breaks of 71, 104 and 88 helped the Englishman level the match.

Northern Ireland’s Allen made a break of 121 to move ahead again, before Trump took the next two frames to lead for the first time.

Allen made another 121 break to level at 6-6, but from there Trump kept his nose in front, securing breaks of 114 and 100 as he wrapped up the contest 10-8.

World number one Trump, 36, set up a quarter-final against England’s Shaun Murphy, who received a bye to the last eight.

The match was the only one to reach a conclusion on the opening day of the tournament, with England’s Barry Hawkins leading Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-3 when play ended.

The other first-round tie saw China’s Wu Yize end the day 6-2 up against England’s Chris Wakelin.

Both matches are set to conclude on Tuesday.